92 Insights into Kendo

Below is an excerpt from an article that appeared at Kenshi 24/7. In the article, the writer describes the history of a vintage book written on Kendo, and the author's "92 bits of wisdom."

I think this list would be of interest  to all martial artists. The full article may be read here.

 

1. Kendo is about striking the opponents heart with yours.

2. In shiai, neither wait nor rush, go with the flow.

3. Kakarigeiko should be short and executed at full throttle. 

4. A good maai is one in which the opponent feels close to you yet they feel it far; you should be able to strike at anytime with ki-ken-tai.

5. Both legs should act in tandem; striking with your whole body from your legs is the basis of good kendo.

6. When initiating a strike, your opponent will telegraph their intention; strike their intention.

7. The eyes are a window to the heart; when your opponent intends to strike their eyes will signal their intention - strike in that instant.

8. True strength lies in good technique, not in strong strikes.

9. Doing keiko every day is like the piling up of daily delivered newspapers.

10. A kodansha who does un-spirited keiko is inferior to a shodan.

11. If you enter tsubazeriai quickly strike and move away; in tsubazeria be careful to relax yet not be careless. 

12. The moment after a mutual-strike (ai-uchi) is decisive.

13. During keiko, always aim to get shodachi.

14. Watch the opponents movement careful and strike when they either enter in or step back.

15. Chudan kamae is the state where your heart is true with no wicked thoughts in mind; be sure you are gripping the shinai correctly.

16. Maai exists in physical space as well as mentally; from there you should be able to strike anytime in ki-ken-tai.

17. When facing an opponent you must first read the opponents mind and strike them first.

18. When facing an opponent if you have no confidence or are unsure whether to strike but do so anyway, your strike will fail.

19. In kendo you should not only think about winning or losing, but seek to understand the spiritual depth found through practice itself.

20. You shouldn’t try to forcibly attain grades, rather, through keiko you will naturally acquire status (respect).